Automobile locking mechanism



June 1.9, 1928. 1,674,315

c. w. BLossoM ET AL AUTOMOBILE LOCKING MECHANISM Filed June 29, 1927 A TTORN 5.

Patented June 19, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.'

CARL W. BLOSSOM AND ELMER C. PETERSON, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNORS TO THE IBLOSSOM LOCK COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

AUTOMOBIL LOCKING IIECHANISM.

Application filed June 29,

The present improvements relating, as indicated, to automobile locking mechanism, have more particular regard to automobile locks of the so-called coincidental type; thus,

the present device incorporates means Vfor conjointly locking the transmission mechanism and the switch that controls the ignition circuit. The object 0f the invention is to provide a simple and compact device for the purpose stated, whereby a single key or permutation controlled element may be utilized to secure an ignition switch of the usual type in open position and to actuate a keeper, forexample, in the transmission gear box, so as to prevent shifting of the transmission gears. Such keeper, however, may obviously be arranged as desired to prevent movement of any other part of the driving mechanism of the automobile. A further object of the invention is to provide means for the ready interchange of one lock barrel or cylinder for another without, however, detracting `from the security afforded by the device when in assembled-condition.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, consistsA of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims. the annexed drawing and the following description setting forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention,- such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in `which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing:-

Fig. 1 is a central longitudinal section of the device. including the locking mechanism proper and the keeper actuated thereby, as well as the conduit housing the wire which serves operatively to connect the switch mechanism with such keeper; Figs. 2, 3, and 4 are transverse sections of the device taken on the planes respectively indicated by the lines 2 2, 3--3 and 4 4, Fig. l; and Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the actuating clement that forms a part of the device.

The main supporting member for the various operative parts thatgcom'pose the actu- 50 ating part of the device is a casing in the form of a shell 1, preferably cylindrical in form, made of a hard metal. This shell at the same time serves as a casing for the re-v 1927. Serial No.` 202,210.

movable lock cylinder assembly, the housing 2 of which is received in one end of said shell, and for the ignition switch support 3.

Permanently secured to the end of the shell 1 adjacent such switch support 3 is one end of a flexible steel conduit 4. In order thus to secure the conduit end to the shell, such end is upset to form a iiaring head 5 adapted to engage a thick washer 6 of complementary form. The latter is'in turnheld in place in shell 1 by an encircling depression 7 formed in such shell so as to engage with a corresponding groove 8 in the washer. Conduit 4 may be of any desired length, its function being to receive, guide and protect a. small steel'wire 9 that serves operatively to connect the lock and actuating mechanism in shell 1 with a keeper 10, the latter being located in the transmission gear box or elsewhere in proper relation to one of the operating'or moving parts of the motor vehicle `so as to retain the same a ainst movement when desired. The `end o duit 4 adjacent such keeper 10 is, like the first mentioned end, formed with a flaring head 5 that is secured in place in a sleeve' l11 by means of a washer 12. Such sleeve is then in turn permanently secured in anyl suitable way to the gear box or other housing within which the keeper' 10 projects. As

an additional protection to the flexible wire 9, the steel conduit 4 is preferably surrounded with a second Hexible met-al tube 13,

preferably of the t pe formed of one or more conduit 4 is attached in the manner just described.' Such assembly includes, in the illustrated construction, the barrel 15 of a, key actuated lock, such barrel being rotatably held in the housing 2 by means of a set screw 16 that engages a shoulder 17 on the barrel..

The inner end of the housing closely sur-A 1-ouncls`ti1e corresponding, reduced end 18l of theba'rrel and is formedlfwith a slot 19 wherewith in one rotative'pofsition of the barrel about its aXis a radially projecting pin or stud 20 on such redt. ed end is adapted to register. The pin is brought into such registering position only by turning the lock loo to un ocked position', and in such position, and such position only, it is possible by removing set screw 16to withdraw the barrel 15 from 'its housing.

Slidably and rotatably mounted within the shell 1 between the inner end of the lock assembly and the switchsupport 3 is a cylindrical member 25, shown by itself in perspective View in Fig. 5, open at its one ond but'closedat the other, i. ev., the end adjacent the lock assembly, save for a rectangular slot 26 in such end, with which an axial projection 26a of corresponding cross-section on the reduced end of lock barrel 15 has engagement. Member 25 is also formed in itscy- `lindrical surface with a cani element in the form of a helical slot or groove 27 wherewith a stud 28, that projects inwardly from the wall of shell 1, has en agement. r.

As a result of the oregoing construction it will be seen that rotation of lock barrel 15, which of course can only be effected through the medium of the appropriate key, will impart a corresponding rotative movement to member 25 and this movement is in turn translated into a longitudinal movement of said member by reason ofthe engagementbetween the stationary stud 28 and the slot 27 in the latter. f Y

The slot `or groove 27 extends through to the open end of member 25 so as to facilitate the assembly of the latter in the shell l, but terminates short of the closed end of said shell, asv shown in Fig. 5. Extending diametrically across and secured in such Open end ofthe member is a pin 29, to which' is attached .the inner end of flexible wire 9, preferably by means of a stamping 30 of the fqrm shown, such stamping having two oppositely located ears 31 by means 'of which it is swiveled on the pin and two other ears 32 that laterally enclose the upset end of the wire which enters the stamping in alignment with the axis of memberV 25, and so is held against movement relatively to the latter. l

AS shown in Fig. 1, two diametrically oppositely located binding posts 35, 35, project outwardly through suitable openings 36, 36,\i`shell 1, such posts being mounted'in the supporting base3, previously referred to, which base of course is made of suitable insulating material and fills the openingsthrough which the posts thus project so asthoroughly to insulate such posts. The inner ends of the latter are electrically vcontinuous with two corresponding contacts 37, 37, Vone of Which (the upper, as shown in Fig. 1)v is slightly shorter than the other." Closure of the circuit' through posts 35, 35, is effected by bridging these contacts with an annular metal plate or washer 38 that is secured to a x ldisk 39 o finsulating material slidably fitted in the space within shell 1 lying between through the medium Iof the appropriate key 'i support 3 and the open end of member 25 (see Fig. 5). Such disk with attached plate is resiliently pressed against the open end of said member by means of a compression spring 39A that surrounds the corresponding portion of the ,wire 9, one end of the spring being received-in a suitable recess in the base 3 and the other pressing against the central portion of. the disk 39 -so as to avoid any Contact with plate 38 carried by the latter.

As va result of the construction just described, it will be seen that when the member 25 is moved longitudinally to the left, as viewed in Fig. 1, incidentally to rotation 0f the lock barrel 15 in the proper direction, the Aplate 38 will be brought first to bear against contact 37 and then against contact 36, thus closing the circuit. Conversely,

upon rotation of the barrel inthe opposite direction, thereby causing retraction of member 25 to the right, the spring 39 Will cause the plate first to break away from the upper contact 37 and then the lower contact, until finally the parts assume the position shown in Fig. 1, which represents the normal or locked position of the device. Insuch locked position, not only is the circuit broken but coincidentally, through the medium of the wire 9, the keeper 10 will be moved from its inoperative position, that shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, to its operative position,-

shown in full lines, meaning-thereby that in such last mentioned position, said keeper is placed where it will obstruct the movement of the part which it is designed to control, such for example as one of the shifter elements of the transmission gear mechanism.

Other modes of applying the principle of j our invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, .pro-

vided the means statedby any of thel following claims or the equivalent of such stated.

means be employed.

We therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as our invention 1. In mechanism of the .character described, the combination with a casing; of switch and keeper actuating means mounted within said casing; and a lock assembly for ,operating said means -mounted in one end of said casing, said assembly including a rotatable barrel, a pin on said barrel, and a slotted retaining member preventing removal of said barrel save when in unlocked position.

2. In mechanism of the character described, the combination with 'a casing; of

switch and keeper actuating means mounted within said casing; and a lock assembly for operating said means mounted in one end of said casing, said assembly including a rotatable barrel, a shoulder on said barrel, a set screw normally engaging said shoulder to prevent endwise movement of said barrel.

a pin on saidv barrel, and a slotted retaining member preventing removal of barrel save When in unlocked position. Y

3. In mechanism of the character described, the combination With a casing; of switch and keeper actuating means mounted within said casing; and a lock assembly for s, operating said ieans mounted in one end of said casing, said assembly including a rotatable 'barrel having a reduced inner end, a

housing in said casing surrounding such44 inner end of said barrel and formed with a slot, a pin on said barrel end preventing ref-f moval 4of said barrel save iwherr rotated intd unlocked position, a shoulder/adjacent the outer end of said barrel, and a set screw pro\ jecting through said housing into engage- Within said casing; and a look assembly for operating said means mounted in one endof said casing, said assembly lincluding a rotatable barrel, a retaining member therefor, and a pin 'and slot connection between said barrel and said retaining member preventing removal of said barrel save when in unloclel position.V n Signedby us this 27th day of June; 1927.VV

CARL Wriiossoiipf Y ELMERQ PETERSON. 1 

